Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 522
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       23-00194A-20                                           2020522__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to cruelty to dogs; amending s.
    3         828.12, F.S.; prohibiting a person from leaving a dog
    4         outside and unattended during certain weather events;
    5         providing a criminal penalty; providing a fine;
    6         defining the term “restraint”; providing an effective
    7         date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Present subsection (6) of section 828.12,
   12  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
   13  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
   14         828.12 Cruelty to animals.—
   15         (6) If the temperature is below 32°F or the National
   16  Weather Service has issued a severe weather advisory or warning
   17  and a person leaves a dog outside and unattended, regardless of
   18  whether the dog has access to an outdoor shelter, the person
   19  commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
   20  provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or
   21  both. For purposes of this subsection:
   22         (a) A dog is considered to have been left outside and
   23  unattended if it is left in a securely fenced yard or a kennel
   24  or is tethered by use of a restraint.
   25         (b) The term “restraint” means a chain, a rope, a tether, a
   26  leash, a cable, or another device that attaches a dog to a
   27  stationary object or trolley system.
   28         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.